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Twenty-two coffee enthusiasts from 12 countries came to Bondowoso regency in East Java on July 14 to taste and learn about Arabika Java Ijen Raung, the regency’s local coffee.

Indonesian Specialty Coffee Association (AKSI) head Syafrudin said that the mission of this event is to introduce Bondowoso coffee to the world, “So that it will improve the standard of living of the coffee farmers and increase the country’s foreign exchange,” Syafrudin said.

“Bondowoso coffee has been attracting a lot of buyers, including a café in Australia,” Syafrudin added.

“They’ve already known about the fact that Bondowos is one of the world’s best coffee producers. They’re curious about the coffee processing and coffee farm in Bondowoso,” said Bondowoso regent Amin Said Husni who in 2016 made a decision to brand Bondowoso as a 'Coffee Republic'.

Since 2011, coffee products from Sumber Wringin farm in Bondowoso have been exported overseas. The export in the first year was 17.6 tons (one container).

In the second year, the number jumped up to 12 containers or 236.5 tons while in 2013 the number decreased to 155.3 tons or six containers.

The past six years, the regency administrations together with Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (ICCI), Bank Indonesia and other institutions have been giving a lot of attention to coffee development and coffee farmers in Bondowoso.

Through the hard work, Arabika Java Ijen Raung Coffee has obtained Geographical Indication (IG) certification from the ministry of law and human rights. The certification is a commodity patent right in an area.

Indonesia’s Arabica coffee export has also been increasing every year. In 2014 the number reached 529 tons, in 2015 it was 800 tons and in 2016 the number was around 1,600 tons.

“Indonesian coffee is getting a worldwide attention, even though we’re not the world’s biggest coffee exporter, Brazil takes the first spot, but Indonesian coffee has its own unique characters that are different between regions,” said tourism minister Arief Yahya. (asw)